Kilkenny's Cliodhna Manning named on Irish World Athletics Championship squad

Kilkenny City Harriers athlete Cliodhna Manning is among a 23 strong Irish squad that has been named for the upcoming World Championships in Budapest.

The major championship runs from August 19-27 and Manning is part of the Irish Women’s 4x400m relay team alongside Rhasidat Adeleke (Tallaght AC), Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrock), Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC), Roisin Harrison (Emerald AC), and Kelly McGrory (Tir Chonaill).

Manning's participation does come with a bit of a question mark after she pulled up with a calf strain in last Sunday's National 400m final in Santry and her place is subject to a medical clearance.

As a whole, the Irish squad is the largest ever selected for a World Athletics Championships and will see the 23 strong team (which could rise to 26 in the coming days) take to competition alongside over 2,000 athletes from 200 countries at the brand new 35,000 capacity National Athletics Stadium in Budapest.

Spearheading the Irish challenge across the busy nine-day schedule will be European Championship medal winners Ciara Mageean (City of Lisburn AC), Mark English (Finn Valley AC), and Thomas Barr (Ferrybank AC), while Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) and Rhasidat Adeleke (Tallaght AC) will also look to continue their outstanding seasons.

For the first time ever, Virgin Media will broadcast live coverage of the World Athletics Championships, returning the event to Irish terrestrial television for the first time in decades. The Championships, which start on 19th August, will see Virgin Media present live coverage across all nine days.